BDL Lets Small Depositors Cash Out, Unifies Parallel FX Rate

Central bank governor Riad Salameh issued two circulars Friday one relating to cash withdrawals from small bank accounts, and the second to the creation of a foreign exchange unit at BDL to centralize the price of foreign currency, especially U.S. dollar, for money exchangers in light of a crunch liquidity crisis.

The first circular targets around 1.7 million bank accounts of small depositors.

It said deposits of 5 million Lebanese Pounds or less could be withdrawn despite banking controls. While deposits of 3,000 dollars or less could be withdrawn in Lebanese pounds at the “market price.”

The measure could alleviate pressure on banks and many Lebanese amid a liquidity crisis that had seen banks gradually restrict access to dollars and halt transfers abroad since the autumn, leading the value of the Lebanese pound to plummet on the black market.

Regarding the new foreign currency trading unit at BDL, Salameh confirmed in remarks to the media that the unit will choose which money exchangers it works with, and will deal in banknotes at the "market price."

For decades, the Lebanese pound has been used interchangeably with the dollar at a fixed exchange rate of 1,507 pounds to the greenback.

A dollar is now worth more than 2,700 pounds on the black market and prices have shot up in recent months, but the banks have maintained the old exchange rate.

On March 30, banks have suspended dollar withdrawals until the airport reopens, after authorities grounded flights to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Those with dollar accounts are frustrated at their inability to take out most of their cash to exchange it at a better rate from unofficial money changers, with some banks already capping withdrawals at as low as $400 a month.

Lebanese banks stand accused of transferring millions of dollars abroad while preventing others from doing so after the start of mass protests against the political elite last October.